The Herbalist's Manual(2005)

The Herbalist's Manual is a historical drama following Li Shi Chun, a herbalist who has devoted his life to studying medicinal plants since childhood. When he returns home after the imperial civil examination, hoping to confess his love to Tung Ching, he discovers she has agreed to marry his brother. Forced into an arranged marriage with Ng Mo Yung, Chun becomes a student of the renowned doctor Little Buddha—who is secretly Ching's adopted father. As Chun rises through the medical ranks, he uncovers widespread errors in ancient medical texts and discovers the market is flooded with counterfeit herbs. Determined to reform the field, he embarks on writing the Compendium of Materia Medica, eventually earning an appointment as an imperial doctor. The series blends personal tragedy with professional ambition as Chun navigates love, duty, and his mission to revolutionize herbal medicine.